OEBALUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY

​Oebalus was a legendary king of Ancient Greece, according to Greek mythology. 

Oebalus was commonly named as the son of Cynortes, King of Lacedaemon and Sparta, and Oebalus would inherit these thrones from his father when the time came. 

Famously, Oebalus was the second husband of Gorgophone, daughter of Perseus, who had previously been married to Perieres, King of Messenia. 

Oebalus would become father of a number of children, although there is no real consensus about who were his children, for some were also said to be children of Perieres. Indeed, the mother of Oebalus’ children, for as well as Gorgophone, his wife was also named as Batia, the Naiad nymph of the Spartan town of Batia. 

Across the various sources, named children of Oebalus were Tyndareus, Icarius, Hippocoon, Arene, Pirene and Hyacinthus. Tyndareus and Icarius were also commonly named as children of Perieres and Gorgophone, whilst Hyacinthus was more often said to have lived several generations earlier. 

Hippocoon would become king of Lacedaemon and Sparta after Oebalus, although whether he was the rightful heir, or whether he usurped the rule of Tyndareus, depends on the source being studied. 

Contents

Colin Quartermain - Oebalus - 13th August 2021